5th Race SYSCO Spring Series 2014, June 5th

A mediocre start for this B-2-C-B race.  Winds were out of the north north west. A typical, for this year, wind condition.  Since Rich Jones was off sailing, the RC setup the course.  They made it easy on them by setting only two marks, C and the start-finish mark.  We were in the middle of the fleet and then tacked to port for clear air and more down river current.

Then the first of two interesting events happened.  We were on port tack and I reached to turn off the cell phone's klaxon.  It does that after timing the start.  I am pleased how we can use it for timing our starts.  The only problem I have with it is the loud klaxon after zero.  I reached for the phone and got us in irons.  If you look at the track you will see a kink in it just after the start.  That is my turning off the noise and having to do a 360 to get back on port tack.  We rounded the mark after River Weasel and set up for port broad reach. This sail set allowed us to meander over to the shallower waters and stay in clear air.  It did not allow us to catch or pass anyone but trigger and the two Capri 22's.  River Weasel went over to the Oregon side and sailed up that way.  Scape went over with him and stayed ahead of us.  We caught up the Scape at the leeward mark and rounded just after him.  We stayed on port tack until we could make the committee boat end of the start-finish line. Scape tacked early and we were able to tack above him and make up distance until we were overlapped.  We were making the committee boat, but he wasn't.  They tried to tack but our position prevented it.  The crew made Scape very aware of our presence when they tried to tack.  They were surprise to say the least.  They returned to starboard tack and then tacked behind us.  By that time we were over the finish line ahead of them.  River Weasel and LDV were ahead of us.

We placed second this Series.